Ruth M. Van Roekel

Ruth Mildred Erickson Van Roekel, 90, of Sioux City passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. at a local hospital.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. today at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Merrill Muller officiating. Visitation will be 1 to 3 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Ruth was born and raised in Winner, S.D., to Pete Erickson and Mary Sommerfeld. She attended business school in Sioux Falls, where she met and married Curtis Van Roekel.
Ruth moved to Sioux City in 1952 where she raised her three girls as a single mother. She was employed at Toller Drug Store, Shindler Jewelry, and Zales Jewelry in Sioux City. Never having a car, she walked or took a bus everywhere. After retiring, she continued to work for Jack Martin until suffering from a brain aneurysm and a stroke in 1993. Her daughter, Barbara Van Roekel, moved back from California with her son and daughter to care for her. Her strength and resilience has been her determination to enjoy life and the love of her family.
Her hobbies were sewing, quilting, baking and writing weekly letters to her family. She loved people, especially children. She had an infectious smile on her face when she would see anyone she knew, especially her children and grandchildren. She always looked at the brighter side of things.
She leaves behind her daughters, Barbara Van Roekel of Sioux City, and JoAnn Hiatt (Ken) of Olathe, Kan.; grandchildren, Tammie Caster (Byron) of Desert Center, Calif., Tom Sims of Tea, S.D., Jennifer Van Roekel of Bronson, Iowa, Guy Corbin (Shelly Stone) of Shelby, Iowa, Jaime Hiatt (Katie) of New York City, N.Y., Joel Hiatt (Mandy) of Denver, Colo., and Jaci Hiatt of Denver; her great-grandchildren, Brittany Parker (Dawayne) of Bremerton, Wash., Allie and Samantha Dye and Drew Caster of Desert Center, Calif., Jacob and Abigail Van Roekel of Bronson, Blake and Codey Walker of Le Mars, Iowa, Aiden Sims of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Willa Hiatt of New York City; and great-great-grandchildren, Ronald and Beverly Parker and Dylan Dye.





She is preceded in death by her daughter, Sharon Sims; and her six siblings, Florence Steiger, John Erickson, Pearl Burger, Edna Hamilton, Harold Erickson, and Raymond Erickson.